AKWESASNE. At the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board Enforcement Awards Ceremony hosted by the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort on Onerahtohkó:wa/May 29, 2019; two members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department were honored for their contributions in keeping our county's roadways safe. Franklin County Traffic Safety Board Co-Chairman Sergeant Brian Goetz, New York State Police Traffic Division, bestowed individual awards to Tribal Patrolman Nathan Boots and Tribal Patrolwoman Danielle Robbins, along with 11 law enforcement officers from across Franklin County.

"Recognition from the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board and the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee is an honor for our police department and is owed to the efforts of our individual officers, including Boots and Robbins," said Tribal Chief of Police Matthew Rourke. He added, "Vehicle and Traffic Safety is a concern for everyone, including the prevention of DWIs, and we're proud that our police department's work is directly contributing to this important county-wide goal."

The award ceremony was sponsored by the Traffic Safety Board and was coordinated by Tribal Police Chief Rourke. The event included a keynote presentation from Major Darrin S. Pitkin, Commander of New York State Police Troop B based in Ray Brook, New York. Major Pitkin praised award recipients for their efforts to enforce the state's Vehicle and Traffic (V&T) Laws, including Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

The individual officers earned honors for their outstanding work in keep our roadways safe, such as making arrests for violations in the DWI and V&T categories. They were each nominated by the leadership of their respective law enforcement agencies. Award recipients were presented a handmade plaque prepared by Evan Cree of Traditional Lacrosse.

Eleven-year veteran of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Patrolman Nathan Boots was honored with an award for his contribution for Vehicle Traffic Law Enforcement. Patrolman Boots was recognized by the Traffic Safety Board for leading the Tribal Police Department in traffic safety and efforts to reduce traffic-related offenses.

Four-year veteran of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Patrolwoman Danielle Robbins received recognition for her contribution to Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Law Enforcement. Patrolwomen Robbins led the Tribal Police Department during the past year in an effort to prevent DWIs at drunk driving checkpoints or on community patrols.

Congratulations and niá:wen (thank you) to Tribal Police Officers Nathan Boots and Danielle Robbins for your continued commitment to public and traffic safety. We have the utmost respect for the difficult work you do on a daily basis in keeping our community's roadways safe.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department is a partnering law enforcement agency of the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board, which belongs to the New York State Association of Traffic Safety Boards-a statewide association of county traffic safety boards; state and federal agencies; highway engineers; public safety professionals and individuals who share a goal of traffic safety and injury prevention.